The year is 1999, millenium approaching, stock market crash looming. And two guys from the Jersey burbs -- friends since high school, approaching middle age and both, in completely different ways, living stunted and unfulfilling lives -- face truthes about themselves and their pasts they'd been avoiding for decades.

A great read. A smart, funny, disturbing commentary on America at the turn of the century -- pop culture, materialism, muddled values, our conflicting sense of responsibility and family and community. Friendship and betrayal.

James Kaplan's language is beautiful and wild -- the novel, sometimes wrenching, is also often laugh-out-loud funny. If you grew up or live in the burbs, you'll see plenty you know, plenty to laugh and feel sick about. If you don't know the burbs, you'll enjoy it too -- sometimes simply grateful you've been spared the less "desirable" features and challenges those of us who've lived in the burbs have come to expect (and in some cases even enjoy).